Meningococcal Vaccine
Make it required!
Require Meningococcal Vaccine
The meningococcal vaccine prevents meningitis, meningococcemia, septicemia, and sometimes carditis, septic arthritis or pneumonia. Also, these diseases can be transmitted through kissing someone or coughing or sneezing on someone. Meningitis, the most common disease prevented, causes fever, mental status changes, nausea, severe headaches, etc. Also, if untreated, meningitis is extremely deadly. So, this is extremely dangerous without a vaccination, and one should be required to enter schools.
Statistics
Since 2001, the state of Texas has averaged about 1934 cases of meningitis per year, with a total of 21,279 cases. This means, that an average of about 8 out of every 100,000 people were infected. It is estimated that 10% of the general public carries the meningitis disease. Usually, the meningitis disease takes effect within 24 hours. These statistics are only for meningitis, which is only one of the six diseases the meningococcal vaccine prevents. Therefore, this vaccine should, without a doubt, be required to enter school.